Dual connection interactive video based communication system

ABSTRACT

An interactive video based communication system provides apparatus and methods for user guided information retrieval in video frame format and transmission of the selected and retrieved information to a remote location for subsequent review and analysis. The storage of audio information in video frame format permits real time information compression allowing a one minute presentation to be transmitted in a fraction of a second.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/768,667,filed Sep. 18, 1996, now abandoned, which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 08/440,762, filed May 15, 1995, now abandoned,which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/173,491,filed Dec. 23, 1993, now abandoned which is a continuation applicationof application Ser. No. 07/221,331, filed Jul. 19, 1988, now U.S. Pat.No. 5,276,866.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to apparatus and methodology for providing aninteractive video based communication system, and more particularly, asystem for interactively selecting video based data comprising image,audio and/or text information from a data storage facility andtransmitting this information as a video based signal to a remotelocation for subsequent viewing and analysis.

It is an object of the present invention to permit a user tointeractively select portions of video based data from a databasestorage facility. The video based data will contain picture imageinformation, audio information, and/or text and graphic information. Theselected portions are transmitted pursuant to the present invention tothe user for viewing and analysis.

It is an additional object of the present invention to combine image,text and audio information into a video signal for retrieval by theuser.

It is another object of the present invention to permit the transmissionof high definition video images.

It is still another object of the present invention to tag the userselected video based data in a manner to control and monitor itstransmission and reception.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of aninteractive video based communication system directed to the storage,retrieval and display of video based data pertaining to the sale of realproperty.

An additional object of the present invention is the provision of aninteractive video based communication system directed to the storage,retrieval and display of video based data pertaining to purchasablegoods and services.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of aninteractive video based communication system directed to the controlledstorage, retrieval and display of video based data pertaining to resortsor vacation locations as used by a network of travel agents.

The above and other objects of the present invention are realized in aspecific illustrative program controlled interactive video basedprocessor that operates in concert with input, transmission and displayapparatus to access user selected topics in the form of video baseddata; confirm the quality of the selected data and transmit the selecteddata in the form of a video signal to a remote location; receive andstore the transmitted data at the remote location for subsequent reviewand analysis.

In accordance with varying aspects of the present invention, theselected data is interactively qualified by the user prior totransmission, thus permitting the user to augment or cancel his requestif the selected data is unsatisfactory. In addition, access to thesystem is by coded entry, creating a simplified means for tracking useand insuring proper transmission and billing for the system service.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features of the present invention may be more fullyunderstood from the following discussion of the specific, illustrativeembodiments thereof, presented hereinbelow in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of video based data storage, retrieval andtransmission systems in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2a is a block diagram of the program controlled receiver anddisplay system used in conjunction with the apparatus of FIG. 1 and inaccordance with the subject invention;

FIG. 2b is a block diagram of an alternative arrangement for thereceiver system;

FIG. 3 is a logic flow chart for the control functions of thetransmission system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a logic flow chart for the control functions of the recoveringsystem in accordance with the subject invention; and

FIG. 5 is a logic flow chart for the control functions of the recoveringsystem having a default mode in accordance with the subject invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

First briefly discussing the invention in overview, the interactivecommunication system herein described provides user access to a databaseof information and the capability to select specific portions of thedatabase information for his/her subsequent reception. The database willcontain video, audio, and text information organized in a manner toallow the user to interactively "cull out" the information tracks he/shedesires. The selected portions of data are tagged (I.D.), pulled out ofmemory and transmitted to a user location. The selected data, althoughcontaining both image and audio information, is transmitted as a videosignal at the prevailing industry-accepted standards (e.g. 30 frames persecond for video images). The audio portion of the selected data iscompressed from real time format for video-signal transmission (e.g. 10seconds of audio information is stored in one "video" frame andtransmitted at 30 frames/second thus providing a 300:1 time compressionratio of the audio signal). In this regard, a video frame is a bit-mapof pixel intensity values, for example, 512×480 pixel locations (a pixelis a picture image element). The audio data is formatted and stored inpixel form on the video frame.

Alternatively, the video signal may be converted to a digital signaland/or compressed for transmission. Such compression is performed inaccordance with well known standards, such as JPEG, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2.Digital signal transmission is also well known such as disclosed in R.Citta, R. Lee, "Practical Implementation Of A 43 MBIT/Sec. (8 Bit/Hz)Digital Modem For Cable Television," NCTA '93, San Francisco and R.Citta, R. Lee and G. Sgrignoli, "Practical 43 Mbit/Sec Digital Modem ForCable Television," Monograph published by Zenith ElectronicsCorporation, which are incorporated herein by reference. These articlesdescribe a transmission system capable of 43 megabit per second digitaltransmission over a standard 6 MHz video channel.

At the user location, the selected data is received, decompressed ifnecessary, processed, stored and directed to specified output devices,such as monitors, speakers and/or printers. Since the received data isstored, the user can selectively access the data during non-receptionintervals. This allows the transmission system to simultaneously supportmultiple users.

With the above overview in mind and referring to FIG. 1, thetransmission segment of the present invention is shown in block diagramform. More specifically, a component based system is presented withmodem 110 connected to local phone service. The "modem" device (modem isan abbreviation for modulator/de-modulator) contains per se well knowncircuitry for converting data requests received via the telephone wireinto digital information suitable for processing vis-a-vis a digitalcomputer. The modem also translates digital information from thecomputer into a signal compatible with the telephone service. Aninteractive voice synthesizer/receiver (block 120) is linked with themodem and provides voice output of digital information from the centralprocessor unit ("CPU") 100.

The CPU is a digital data processor and operates on per se well knownprinciples of digital computing. System instructions are coded in a formof programming language recognizable by the specific hardware employed.More particularly, the CPU has stored program steps that dictate itsoperation in response to specific inputs. Any type of programminglanguage can be used as long as it is compatible with the CPU, andinput/output devices. The CPU is a microprocessor controlled computersuch as, inter alia, a mainframe, mini, or personal computer, asspecifically programmed for the functions delineated below.

CPU 100 is in communication with the various system components viaaddress and data busses, 130 and 140 respectively. These communicationbusses permit the transmission of instructions and data by per se wellknown means between the memory and output devices of the system viaindustry standard plug compatible components.

In the present system, the mass storage of information is held in memorydatabase 150. This database can be formed by conventional data storagedevices, such as semi-conductor, magnetic disk, or preferably by anoptical storage system. The advantage to optical storage of informationresides in its non-volatility and its relatively inexpensive capital andoperating costs. More particularly, an optical data storage andretrieval device known as a WORM (i.e., write once, read many) providesa data storage medium consisting of micron size pits on the surface of adisk or sheet of polymeric material. These pits are organized into"information tracks" forming digitally encoded information (i.e. inbinary codes). Each sheet or disk contains billions of bits ofinformation and provides a file to a database library. In addition, eachdisk includes a track that defines and summarizes the data storedtherein, thus providing a simplified method for evaluating the qualityof data without a full analysis of the stored information. Data isretrieved off the disk or sheet by use of a scanning laser. The laser issensitive to the change in depth of the pits in the polymeric surfaceand thereby generates a signal corresponding to these pits while rapidlytracking the disk's surface.

The data stored in this format can be of audio, text and/or imageinformation. For example, an information track represents a series of"frames" in that each frame contains binary data sufficient to representan image at 512×480 pixel locations for a total of approximately 25,000pixels. The optical scanner generates a video based signal comprising 30frames per second of video frame information; many of these video framesare preformatted to audio or text data and suitably tagged, thusgenerating a heterogeneous signal blending audio and text informationwith picture images, but all in video frame format.

Although discussed above as a discrete device, the database memory canbe fully integrated into, and part of, the CPU. Furthermore, stored datacan be in analog format, as well as in blended analog/digital or puredigital format.

A data search as requested by the user is controlled by the CPU (SeeFIG. 3 and the discussion hereinbelow). A search summary is culled fromthe database 150 and stored in volatile memory 155. Memory 155 can beone of many well known memory devices, including arrayed random accessmemory semi-conductors (RAM). The information stored in memory 155 istransient in that its purpose is to guide the user in completing hissearch. The user reviews these qualitative results and decides whetherto quit his search, extend his search, or receive the search in itspresent form. Once this decision is made the transient data in memory155 is discarded.

The selected data resulting from the user defined search is culled fromthe database in the form of a video signal, even though portions or allof the information is audio or text. This video signal is modulated(block 160), and transmitted at a carrier frequency by any per se wellknown transmission means 170 in analog video frame format, digitalformat, or compressions of the analog or digital formats.

Referring now to FIG. 3, CPU 100 contains stored program steps per theindicated flow chart logic. A system run is initiated by the user (block400); entry into the system is made via telephone (modem) or similar. Ifentry of a search request is to be made by vocal input, modem 110 inFIG. 1 may be replaced by any well known speech recognition device. Inthis way, the input commands can be entered orally, and thereafterconverted into digital commands for further processing by CPU 100. Theuser enters his identification code (I.D.) and the specific searchrequest being made (block 410). If the I.D. is positive (block 420), theCPU enters a "tag" value which operates to identify the search requestfor all subsequent processing (block 440). The requested search isperformed (block 450) through the database coupled to the CPU (In FIG.1, block 150). A database search is accomplished by per se well knownmeans in that responsive tracks of information are "read" and identified(block 460). In addition, a search summary is prepared (block 470),which contains the number of responsive tracks found in the data search,and a brief synopsis of the information within these data tracks. Thissummary is stored in a separate memory cache.

Test 480 determines whether the search has been completed in terms ofthe user requests. If affirmative, the logic proceeds to block 490, andthe search "summary" is conveyed to the user from memory. This isaccomplished by a telephone line, via the interactive voice synthesizer(FIG. 1, Block 120). Test 500 determines the need for additionalsearches; if no, the user is queried on whether the responsive tracks ofdata representing the requested search are to be transmitted to auser-specified location (block 510). If yes to block 510, then thesystem transmits the tagged search results to the remote receiverspecified by the user (block 515). The account is charged (block 520),and the run terminated (block 530).

In operation, the transmitting system is continually receiving datasearch requests by subscription based users. These interactive requestsare handled in mixed sequential fashion, as the system supports multiplerequests concurrently. The heterogeneous nature of the stored datapermits random access of the selected video frames from the database.Since the data is transmitted in video format, information compressionfrom real time permits the system to simultaneously serve multipleusers.

Now referring to FIG. 2a, the reception system of the present inventionis depicted. The transmitted signal generated by the transmitter 170(FIG. 1) is collected by receiver 210. The mode of transmission is notparticularly limiting; the transmission is video based on industry orgovernment set standards, e.g. 30 video frames per second. Also, thetransmitter and receiver must be compatible to the particulartransmission system selected. Possible modes of transmission includemicrowave broadcast, cable, UHF/VHF, and satellite systems, orcombinations thereof. The incoming signal is demodulated (block 220) byper se well known means, and combined in a multiplexer 240 withinformation supplied via telephone service. The telephone service inputpermits, through modem 230, the service operator to configure andauthorize the receiver to receive the transmitted data by sending anauthorization code to be temporarily stored in the receiver. In thisway, multiplexer 240 acts as a gate to the received data prior toconveying this data into memory under the receiver's control. However,the receiver code is transient, in that it is sent via the modemconnection. There is no need for a permanent code to be assigned to andstored in each receiver (i.e., each receiver is identical), thusminimizing manufacturing costs.

If the tagged data, as transmitted, properly matches the code of thereceiver system, the transmitted data is converted to a digital signalby analog to digital converter 245 and entered into memory 205 viaaddress and data busses, 250 and 260 respectively. In a manner morefully presented below, CPU 200 directs the received data to variousoutput devices, such as video monitor 300, audio speaker 275, printer310 and/or video tape recorder (VTR) 315, via digital to analogconverter 305.

In an alternative embodiment, the receiver may operate in a defaultmode. That is, if multiplexer 240 has not authorized reception oftransmitted data (e.g., the user has not entered a search request), adefault transmission may nonetheless be authorized by multiplexer 240for reception by the interactive system. This default transmission mayconsist of a frame or series of frames periodically transmitted by thesystem operator and tagged for receipt by all system users when theirreceiver is not otherwise configured to receive user-generated search,results. In this manner, the system provider may provide advertisingservices or any other provider-selected tracks from database 150 to allusers on the interactive system. In this mode, the default transmissionis converted by analog to digital converter 245 and entered into memory205 for direction to the various output devices.

Throughout the process, the data is in the form of individual videoframes wherein each frame is labeled or tagged This tag incorporatesinformation on data type (i.e. image, audio, or text). This permits theCPU to direct the tagged, frame to the proper output device in theproper sequence for the requested presentation. If the data presentationis complex, the instructions thereto (i.e., output algorithms) can bestored on a dedicated video frame and subsequently used by the CPU tocontrol the output. For example, the incoming signal may have an initialframe containing output control instructions, a second frame containinga picture image, followed by a series of frames containing audioinformation, somewhat analogous to a slide presentation. CPU 200recognizes the initial output control frame, reads the control algorithmand directs the second, labeled image frame with the picture image toimage frame grabber 270 with instructions to "grab" and circulate thatimage on monitor 300 for a certain length of time, this timecorresponding to the duration of the audio output. The subsequent framescontaining the audio information are directed to audio frame grabber 271with instructions to drive speaker 275 with the audio signal. Thisdirected output via CPU 200 is by per se well known means of drivingperipheral devices.

As mentioned, image frame grabber 270 "grabs" the picture image frameand stores the frame in RAM memory. This image is directed to monitor300 by controller 278 wherein it "refreshes" the screen display at arate of 30 frames per second providing the picture image withoutassociated image "flicker". This single image frame is held on thedisplay for a time period determined for that particular presentation.

The audio frame grabber 271 "grabs" the video frames containing audioinformation and produces an audio output therefrom. In this regard, thegrabbed frame is "read" providing, via controller 274, a certain timelength of audio information to the speaker, e.g. 10 seconds per frame,in conjunction with the concurrently running video image on monitor 300.Although, the audio and image frame grabbers are diagrammaticallydiscrete, this is for illustration of the above principles. A singleframe grabber can be employed to perform the above functions.

An alternative reception process is diagrammed in FIG. 2b. Morespecifically, the reception system depicted in FIGS. 2a and 2b are thesame through to multiplexer 240. In FIG. 2b, the output of multiplexer240 is in the form of demodulated broadcast video, tagged for thatreceiver location and at prevailing industry set standards, e.g. 30frames per second. This signal is fed to memory device 340, inunconverted analogs form. An example of memory device 340 is an analog"frame grabber" floppy disk drive which is capable of storing videoframes on individual tracks in a magnetic recording medium. The outputof the recorded tracks is directed by controller 360, to the variousoutput devices 350, e.g. speaker and monitor, or printer 355, pursuantto instructions found on each frame. Again controller 360 and memorydevice 340 are only shown as discrete devices for understanding of theprinciples involved.

The systems in FIG. 2a and 2b both incorporate input 280, allowing auser to direct and control the output. This input can be in the form ofa keyboard or similar device or a speech recognition device, wherein theuser can enter commands to the system.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a logic flow chart is presented for the videoreceiver system. Although in practice, the receiver would becontinuously receiving and confirming coded data, this is conceptuallypresented as initiated by the reception of a transmission compatiblewith the system (block 600), and confirmation of the tagged data asproperly matched and expected by the system (Test 610). If the stream ofdata, in the form of video frames, does not match expected system codes,it is rejected (No to test 610) and the run is conceptually complete(block 720). Alternatively, if the incoming video frames are properlytagged, or a portion thereof, then the system recognizes the frames andstores the data in the form of video frames in memory (block 620). Asdiscussed above, this memory can be one of many industry recognizedsystems including magnetic based floppy disk and hard disk devices.

As stored, the video based images are now available for review by thesystem user (block 630). Test 640 queries whether the user desires areal time display of the stored data. If yes, the system directs thevideo frames representing picture images to the monitor (block 650) in amanner corresponding to that particular presentation. The video basedaudio information is reformatted to audio output and similarly directedto output via a loudspeaker, either discrete or integrated with themonitor.

Test 660 determines whether the user desires to store the data on a hardstorage device, such as a VTR. If "yes", then the output is directed tohard storage (block 670). Similarly, Test 680 determines whether theoperator desires to print individual video frames. If "yes" the desiredframes are identified (block 690), and the output directed to a suitableprinter device (block 700).

A second run through the same data is possible, Test 710, with the runconceptually completed at 720. Although the logic shown is hierarchialin form, this is chosen mostly for enhancing explanation of the logicpath. It may be more desirable to present the various options in thesystem to the user in concurrent "menu driven" format by per se wellknown techniques.

In the alternative embodiment including a default mode, FIG. 5illustrates the logic flow of the video receiver system. In mostrespects, the logic flow of FIG. 5 is the same as that in FIG. 4.However, in the case of a negative result at test 610, only the incomingframes of the default transmission, suitably tagged by the systemoperator, are stored in memory (block 625). This memory can be the sameas that used to store data received in response to a search request. Instep 655, these frames are then directed to the monitor, speaker and/orprinter in a manner corresponding to the presentation programmed by thesystem provider. The run is then conceptually complete at 720.

The properties of the above system will be more fully recognized asoperating in the context of the following example.

In the Real Estate market, realtors operate locally through agents.These agents take potential customers (homebuyers) as prospects tohouses listed or advertised for sale on the market. In addition, theseagents continually visit other houses on the market and consult withlisting systems, such as the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) to measurethe inventory of houses on the market and to match suitable houses toprospects. The present invention operates to increase the efficiency ofthe agent in performance of these functions.

More particularly, a client visits an agent at his office, requestinginformation about four bedroom homes in a given neighborhood and withina certain price range. The agent contacts an operating service equippedwith the present invention via conventional telephone lines, providesthe access code to the system, and describes his search request. Thistelephone link directly accesses the system. For example, the systemiteratively asks the agent to characterize his search request by aseries of choices, such as commercial or residential, condominium ordetached home, etc. to which the agent responds by touch tone entry ofdesignated numbers or vocal input.

Once the search is properly characterized and the agent's access coderecognized, the system identifies the information tracks responsive tothe requested search. These tracks comprise image, audio, and text datain the form of video frames. In addition, the requested data is taggedwith the agent's access code, location code, and other information tofacilitate system operation. Finally, a data search summary isseparately stored, summarizing the contents of the responsiveinformation tracks.

The system presents the summary of the data retrieved by the system tothe agent over the telephone. This summary may include the number ofhouses found in the search, street address, etc. If the agent issatisfied with the search and wishes to view the information retrieved,the system is instructed to transmit the responsive tracks to theagent's location.

These tracks are transmitted by microwave broadcast in the form of videoframes at industry set standards, e.g. 30 frames per second. In thisway, the images of 30 different houses can be transmitted to the agents'location in 1 second. Alternatively, the tracks may be transmitted in acompressed format. In this manner, a much larger quantity of data can betransmitted to the agents ' location in 1 second or a greater, multitudeof agent locations can be serviced by the system in a shorter period oftime.

Alternatively, information on houses for sale can be prepackagedincluding separate image frames for varying views of the house,intermixed with audio and/or text information on the house. A one-minuteformal presentation for a house comprising three different views (3image video frames) with 60 seconds of audio (in the form of 6 videoframes, each containing 10 seconds of audio) can be transmitted to theagent's location in less, than 1/3 of a second (total 9 frames of videosignal at 30 frames per second transmission rate) or less in the case ofcompressed transmissions.

The agent's location is equipped and configured to receive the microwavebroadcast signal comprising designated frames of video based datacorresponding to presentations on four bedroom homes at the requestedprice level. The transmitted data is received, identified, and stored inreceiving system memory. The agent and his client can review each house,or house presentation at their leisure, store the video information on avideo tape recorder for later review, or print individual houses (imagevideo frames) for the client to consider on his own. For the real estateagent, the system provides tremendous access to detailed informationabout the housing market with minimal time. In addition, since thesystem compresses real time presentations to a small fraction of thetime for transmittal, multiple users can simultaneously access thesystem.

In a similar and simultaneous manner, the present invention is appliedto support a network of travel agents. In this application, the travelagent inquires about specific locations for vacation travel. Video basedpresentations on hotels, beaches, etc. are transmitted to the agent forreview.

Another variation of the present invention is its application forgoods-services purchasing, as exemplified by a home-buying services. Forthis application, the customer interactively requests data on a certainclass of products. The description/presentation of these products istransmitted in. video frame format, or alternatively, digitized and/orcompressed as dictated by the requirements of the system, to thespecified buyer for his subsequent review.

An additional application of the above invention involves highdefinition television (HDTV). In this case, the system operates toexpand the transmitted video signal in real time, so that, uponcompression at the user's site, the image has much higher resolution.More particularly, an high resolution image frame containing 100,000pixels (picture image elements) can be sequenced into four segments ofpixel information (e.g., 25,000 pixels) and transmitted as four separatevideo frames in industry standard 512×480, 30 frames per second format.At the point of reception, these four frames are recombined into theoriginal, high resolution image.

It can be seen that the above system provides significant flexibility intailoring the transmitted signal to the particular needs of the user.For example, multiple languages can be integrated into a presentationwith a user specifying his language of choice. Additionally, higherquality sound, and multichannel sourcing (stereo) is easily establishedin video frame format for subsequent retrieval.

Accordingly, the above described invention has been shown to permit theinteractive selection of information, the retrieval of this informationin video based format for transmission to a remote, identifiablelocation for storage and subsequent review. The above describedarrangement is merely illustrative of the principles of the presentinvention. Numerous adaptations and modifications thereof will bereadily apparent to those skilled in this art without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention.

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for interactive video based communicationcomprising: a telephone based, multi-user access means for describing arequest for information; a random access information storage means forstoring plural information tracks; data processing means for receivingsaid request for information and selectively searching based on saidrequest and generating identifying information indicating informationtracks in said information storage means responsive to said request forinformation; a telephone based communication link means connected to aplurality of remotely located receivers for configuring said receiversfor selective storage or display of identified information tracks; andtransmitting means separately connected to said receivers fortransmitting said identified information tracks in compressed videoformat to a plurality of said remotely located receivers, wherein saidremotely located receivers include frame grabber means for selectivelyacquiring transmitted information tracks responsive to said searchrequests.
 2. An apparatus for interactive video-based communicationcomprising:a multi-user access means for entering a search request froma user; database storage means for storing plural tracks of information;processing means for searching said database storage means based on saidsearch request and identifying information tracks in said databasestorage means responsive to said search request; first transmissionmeans connected to a remotely located receiver for selectivelyconfiguring and authorizing said receiver for storage of said identifiedinformation tracks; second transmission means separately connected tosaid remotely located receiver for transmitting to said remote receivera video signal comprised of said identified information tracks; saidremotely located receiver including storage means for storing saididentified information tracks responsive to said search request inresponse to said selective authorization.
 3. The apparatus as in claim2, wherein said processing means further generates a search summary ofsaid identified information tracks.
 4. The apparatus as in claim 3,further including memory means for temporarily storing said searchsummary.
 5. The apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said multi-user accessmeans conveys said stored search summary to said user.
 6. The apparatusas in claim 2, wherein at least a portion of said video signal comprisescompressed video/audio/textual information.
 7. The apparatus as in claim2, wherein at least a portion of said video signal is in digital format.8. An apparatus for receiving signals from a mass storage system in aninteractive video-based communication system comprising:first receivingmeans for receiving on a first communication link connected to said massstorage system a video signal comprised of user-requested data portionsand a plurality of default transmissions, said default transmissionsconsisting of provider-selected data; memory means; second receivingmeans for receiving on a second communication link separately connectedto said mass storage system authorization information from a serviceprovider; video signal conveying means connected to said first receivingmeans and said second receiving means for conveying said user-requesteddata portions of said video signal to said memory means in response toreceipt by said second receiving means of said authorization informationand for conveying said plurality of default transmissions to said memorymeans in the absence of said authorization information.
 9. The apparatusas in claim 8, wherein at least a portion of said video signal comprisescompressed video/audio/textual information.
 10. The apparatus as inclaim 8, wherein at least a portion of said video signal is in digitalformat.
 11. The apparatus as in claim 8, further comprising:at least oneoutput device; and processing means for directing said user-requesteddata portions of said video signal or said default transmissions storedin said memory means to said at least one output device.